And charles kiaqges



Jan. 12, 1932. B. s. BAIRD ET AL STETHOSCOPE AND PARTS THEREFOR Filed July 17. 1929 INVENTORS Berlon 6? Ba 5rd. learZap lilqggapr c I 4 a w HamZAT l'RNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES BERTON G. QBAIRD, or EWARK, New

JERSEY, AND CHARLES KLAGGES, or

SOUTH OZONE PARK, NEW YORK STETHOSCOPE AND Application filed July 17,

This invention relates to that class of'instruments, used in ascertaining the condition and frequency of heart beats, lung actionand other movements inaudible or nearly so to the 5 unaided ear, and known as Stethoscopes or auscultaphones, whereby the exact sounds of the circulatory and respiratory organs of the human body are reproduced and magnified.

Such instruments are commonly composed of a bell shaped receiver having branches connected by flexible tubes with smaller metal tubes terminating in ear pieces adapted to enter the outer ear, excluding all sound except what is conveyed directly through the instrument.

Sizes and shapes of the applicators vary in accordance with the purpose for which they 7 are used, thus requiring a practitioner to have several of the instruments at his service, which is inconvenient and expensive.

A further distinct disadvantage resides in the fact that the receivers, applicators and ear pieces are made of metal and unless brought to blood temperature before use,

cause a chill and involuntary shrinking of the patient, disconcerting and disagreeable.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an applicator in which the several contactor elements are interchangeably engageable with the receiver so that different shapes and sizes may be conveniently applied at will.

A further feature is in the provision of contactor elements made wholly of non-metallic, non-conducting material so that no uncomfortable sensation is experienced by their use. Furthermore the molded material used is an effective insulator of sound as compared with metal, which possesses a decided resonance, likely to distort the true sound from a patient.

These highly important objects, together with others which will become later apparent, are accomplished by the novel construe tion, combination and arrangement of parts and selection of material as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a PARTS THEREFOR 1929. Serial No. 378,882.

conventional type of stethoscope showing certain features of the invention as applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a wrist or chest applicator.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. p d

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a different type of receiver interchangeable with the tubesshown inFig. 1. 69

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the part shown in Fig. 4 showing a bell contactor engaged therein.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of one type of interchangeable contactor.

Figure 7 is a similar'view of a slightly modified contactor.

Figure 8 is av perspective view ofthe receiver, shown in Fig. 1, in detail.

In Fig. 1 a pair of flexible. tubes 10, of 7 such material as rubber, have inserted in their ends smaller metallic tubes 11 held therein by beads 12, the tubes'll being curved outwardly and then inwardly at substantial- 1y. right angles and terminate in screw threaded portions 13 on which are engaged pear shaped ear pieces l t-adapted to enter" the outer ear.

The ear pieces 14, in accordance with the present disclosure, differ only from the'usual metal construction by being molded of phenolformaldehyde resins or like non-conducting compositions, presenting a highly finished surface and capable of being subjected to heat or any chemical antiseptic 5 treatment without injury, thusbeing sanitary.

A pair of clips 15 partially surround the tubes 11, near their insertion into the flexible tubes 10, the clips being integrally connected by a curved flat compression spring 16 of the usual type, its purposebeing to draw the ear'pieces '14 towards each other and retain them as adjusted in the ear, thus closing .out' any interfering sounds. I

' In the opposite ends of the flexible tubes 10 are inserted'hollowstems 17 provided with beads 18, these stems being. integralv with,or moldedrigidly'into, the branches 19 of a hollow conicalreceiver 20 terminat I ing in a smoothly rounded end edge 21, capable of direct use as a contactor and containing an internal screw thread 22, the branches 19 being equal in diameter with the tubes 10, and presenting a shoulder against which they abut.

Selectively engageable by the threads 22 are bell-shaped centactors each having a conical muzzle 26--3l36 leading to the threats 27S2.37 open to the interior of the applicator 20, the contactors having smoothly rounded outer edges 283338 causing no discomfort by their application and their threaded stems 29--34.39 being alike and uniform.

As seen in Figs. at and 5 a receiver 40. is provided with hollow stems til engageable in the tubes 10, thus providing a short contactor easily insertable under the clothing of an individual, the rounded edge 42 making direct contact with the body.

The interior of the applicator has a screw thread 43,. the cavity 44- therebelow being open to the passages of the stems 41; the contactors 253035 may be engaged by their threads as will be apparent.

Also engageable in either of the receivers 20 and 40, is an applicator 4:5 composed of a raised threaded rim 46 having a seat on which is disposed a diaphram 47 held by a clamp ring 48 engaging the threaded rim 46, the receiver having a hollow stem 49 similar to the stems 29-34-39.

It will be seen that a considerable degree of interchangeability is obtained.

The several parts 2025-30354045 are composed wholly of the substance described and in the manner mentioned with respect to the ear pieces 14 and thus cause no annoyance in their application, and, like the ear pieces, are amenable to anti-septic treatment. the contactors may be made in different colors to aid in their selection as to size and suitability.

It will be apparent that the several parts may be used in connection with any conventional stethoscope without change therein.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a single instrument provided with interchangeable parts as herein indicated is highly advantageous as compared with a plurality of separate instruments of different sizes and capacities, while the non-metallic parts I employed present an important advance in the art.

Although the "foregoing is descriptivev of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letter Patent. is

For the purpose of convenience 1. A stethoscope having all its cont-actor elements composed wholly of phenol formaldehyde resin.

2. A stethoscope comprising a pair of flexible tubes provided with ear pieces at one end and a branched hollow body at the other end, said body having a rounded edge and containing a screw thread, and a bell-shaped contactor engaged by said screw thread, saidear pieces, body and eontactor being of nonmetallic material.

3. A stethoscope comprising a pair of flexible tubes provided with car pieces at one end and a cylindrical receiver having intcgra l hollow stems engaged in the other end of said tubes, said receiver containing a car-- ity open to the stems and a screw thread at its outer portion, and an applicator selectively engageable in the screw threads.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

BERTON G. BAIRD. CHARLES KLAGGES. 

